Assembling the VMC Sopwith Triplane From Start to Finish

What's involved in building the Vintage Model Company's Sopwith Triplane? I've edited a brief overview of the steps in putting together a kit from VMC, in this case their beautiful Sopwith Triplane, needless to say being laser cut it went together very nicely indeed. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:00 What's in the Box 2:05 Starting the Fuselage 3:40 Building a Wing 5:08 Making the Wing Alignment Jigs 6:03 Fuselage Stringers 6:52 Fitting the Cabane Struts 7:24 Cowl and Thrust Bearing 7:48 Tailplane Building 8:08 Wheels 8:46 Sanding the Tail 9:05 Cowl Sanding 9:38 Cockpit Templates 12:06 Undercarriage Modification 13:37 Tissueing the Fuselage and Tail 14:10 Tissueing the Wings 19:20 Matt Lacquer Drying 19:38 Roundels 19:52 Marking on the Ailerons 20:25 Top Wing Fitting 21:21 Wing Alignment Jigs 23:03 Tailplane and Fin Fitting 24:02 Summing Up
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[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Great build Cliff! What a lovely model!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Adam I think she should do a circuit or two and look very nice 👍🙂

[@timtheplaneman]

What a beautiful build! Nice job Cliff. I started my adventure with the VMC Spitfire 3 years ago now, they do a nice job and their instruction manuals are really well done. What was that laser you used to line things up?

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Tim, thanks, those instruction booklets are another level aren't they! It was just a cross-hair laser, picked it up on Amazon, loads to choose from, I decided to go for a green laser as opposed to the red version, just easier to see, cheers

[@pjcarter8230]

Looks really good Cliff. I have often thought about getting the VMC Triplane. I built the Aerographics one, over 200 ribs to cutout! Laser makes it a lot easier. I powered mine with a KP 02 electric setup. I've built several VMC models and all have been very good, both to build and fly.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks PJ, I'm considering a bigger one 👍

[@DLLReid]

Nice finish. Don’t know if I misheard you say all up weight was 60g? VMC must have substituted Guillow’s wood. 18 inch span at 60g will be a sled.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

60g auw, 10g for motor and prop, 6g to balance., so 44g for the finished airframe. One of the sheets was quite hard but that was for load-bearing pieces. Admittedly the model's weight will cut down on the flight time but three wings will help to compensate (I hope). Whatever happens though I'm having fun, cheers

[@sidecarbod1441]

Lovely! I built the same model a couple of years ago, I converted it to electric RC, I've had one go at flying it but it would stall as soon as the power was applied even though the C of G is correct. Since then I've added some down thrust angle to the prop but not flown it again. Maybe this summer I'll have another go at flying it. I even used the same green tissue that you've used, the brown paper looks 'odd; to me, I used some silver paper along with silver paint for the engine cowl.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

High Sidecar, yes definitely more down thrust needed, a rubber powered one I've seen had a boot full of down and side thrust 👍

[@jorgerostagnol5753]

Hola Clifff. Felicitaciones me encanta ese triplano Ingles. !!! No me puedo imaginar estár al lado de uno real. Te mando muchos saludos

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Jorge, it's quite the machine 👍🙂

[@turkeytrac1]

Great build video. What laquor did you use on the plane? Thanks for posting

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

It's called Autotek Matt Lacquer, I get mine from Ebay UK 👍

[@downwindchecklist6567]

Great build and excellent tips as usual. The size is very nice and you are getting great finishes on the wood.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thank you Andrew I really enjoyed building this model! Cheers 🙂

[@chrisriley5258]

You make this look so easy cliff, like the voice over for a long video build.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Glad you liked it Chris, thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@vaughanlockett658]

I have the SE5a . I was thinking of RC . It's still in the box.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

It's your choice Vaughan, I think it needs to fly out of the box soon though 🙂👍

[@MORCOPOLO0817]

I would imagine with three wings it is going to get a lot of lift. Probably will require more down thrust or you might be able to get by with less power.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

You're probably right there Mirco, another builder on Facebook showed me a picture of his with rather a lot of down and side thrust 🤔👍

[@woutersmith7616]

She is a Beaut Cliff. Nice colour🤠👍🛩️🇿🇦

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Wouter, I'm really pleased with her, cheers

[@FredWilbury]

😎👌☕️ brilliant thanks for sharing

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks for watching Fred 🙂

[@nigelcopestake3618]

Just built this kit, excellent quality 👍

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Mine to Nigel, I may choose another one 🤔

[@DadsRCHangar]

Great build Cliff, she does look orsum, the plans looked ready good as well. Look forward to the flight 🫡

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

The kit was superb Chris, can't fault it, cheers 👍🙂

[@8OutOf10Crafts]

It looks very good, your tissue covering is brilliant cliff! Looked at vmc models as I want to build a balsa model to make RC. However I haven't had the best of luck with foam yet so avoiding for now😂 my minimum rc cessna full kit however is now in the uk finally!! Should be delivered after the bank holiday. I did want it for my four days off but ah well, it's still on its way

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks, maybe your kit will appear suddenly, the postal service may see your comment and take pity on you and rush it through! cheers

[@8OutOf10Crafts]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes it's just turned up with evri 😊 that's the gardening on standby then

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

@8OutOf10Crafts Result 👍

[@patrickwentz8413]

Well that is just beautiful!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Patrick, 'tri' (😁) one yourself, it's a nice kit 👍

[@Yogenh]

An other great little plane

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Paul 👍

[@flyingcloud4757]

Thanks for your video. It Olive green tissue or paint.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

It's green tissue Htun, thanks for watching 👍

[@flyingcloud4757]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Esaki green tissue? I always want to build a model with military colour scheme but I don't have green tissue 🤣

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Not Esaki no, just standard tissue from DB Sport and Scale in the UK, five sheets for £4.50, www.dbsportandscale.com/lightweight-tissue-covering-paper-8631-p.asp

[@flyingcloud4757]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Thank You

[@ronmarking3776]

An excellent quick build Cliff. VMC kits are good aren't they. Don't forget to let the grass grow and the wind to drop before your maiden flights!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

I shall Ron, might have to wait a few weeks though 🤔👍

[@Luke-sg8kk]

🤔 Promo-SM

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Luke, what does that mean? 🙂👍

[@ronaldrose6885]

Just listening to you unroll the plans,sounds like the plans are on high quality paper..great selection Cliff.❤

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

It's a quality kit Ron 👍

[@benjaminwinn8899]

Thanks for a fun video! I really enjoyed the voiceover. Cheers!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Ben, it made for a more coherent video, it's not something I normally do 👍

[@truckerjim372]

Wow! VMC kits may be awesome but what a superb job you did. Can't wait to see it airborne 😊

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Jim 🙂👍

[@jollyroger2226]

That is a beautiful build & model ! - But then again - I have never seen you do ugly.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Roger, under every good tissue job there's a well thought out kit, it was a pleasure to put together, I may do another VMC model but spoilt for choice!

[@dancahill8555]

I love it! Knew about these triplanes but never saw a model. Great looker, too.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Dan, the 'Tripehound' is a favourite of mine, a lovely looker 🙂👍

[@MarkCroucherRC4fun]

The voice over works well great build.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Mark it was a means to an end 🤔👍

[@bobi2582]

Very nicely done Cliff. You make it look so easy!!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Bob, practice makes perfect 👍😁

[@Watchingthevideos99]

Very well-done video Cliff.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi John, a fun model to put together, but would you believe still waiting to Maiden if this wind ever dies 😕

[@Watchingthevideos99]

HA HA. I was recently given a collection of old Aeromodeller magazines. One thing that stood out to me were the photos of the flyers and a good amount of them have the wind blowing hair across their faces and they usually are holding their models with two hands. 😂I think you guys have a lot of wind!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

@@Watchingthevideos99 Funny, I spent the day on an airfield with a horizontal windsock 😁

[@Watchingthevideos99]

🤣😂🤣

[@barrywood5357]

Nicely done sir Just what the doctor ordered would have loved to seen this indoor rc

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Barry, maybe next time 🤔👍

[@RolfKni]

Sehr schönes Modell, das hast du fantastisch gut gebaut👍

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Rolf 👍

[@thebarronflights]

I quite like the new and different video production. So now you have a British Triplane, the gauntlet is down. Mine Got! ❤

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

This style of editing Nick means I can get the whole build video into one episode 🤔 I think the Tripehound would whip your Fokker any day 😁

[@thebarronflights]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes we will have to put that to the test one day👍🏼

[@bobflyman]

Impressive looking plane. I definitely feel a Lidl mini tri-plane maybe my next project! Laser guided vertical stab set up 😮. What's wrong with good old Mark one eyeball?

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Bob, sounds good, why wouldn't one want to use a laser lol

[@mikeparkercreative5136]

Beautiful job Cliff 👏

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thank you Mike! Cheers!

[@JeffinLowerAlabama]

Cliff that's an amazing build and great looking kit, well done, looking forward to the maiden. Now you need to scale it up for RC! Jeff in LA USA

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

I would like a bigger version Jeff but it would be possible to convert even this size to RC

[@tedmoss]

I have built small rubber powered models before, but find them easy to break, so I am making larger models these days, 40" to 112" wingspan electric powered.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Ted, they land best into long grass! I wouldn't mind a bigger model of this aeroplane, watch this space as they say, cheers 👍